The folk etymology for manna
in Exodus is that it comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning, "What
is it?" But the word may mean simply edible
or foodstuff.

The surprising element in the story is not
that God provides for his people, for he
surely does, but that God, the creator of infinite variety, provides
only one edible substance.

The wonder of God is that if he provides for
only one of our needs with only one thing, it is still more than
enough.

This story takes place after Moses
led the Israelites out of Egypt across
the Sea of Reeds, and the Israelites had entered the Sinai, which,
then as now, is desert, on their way
to the land of Canaan. Aaron is Moses'
brother and speaker, who became the high priest of the Israelites.